A radical new scheme unveiled today aims to halt the sexual offenders of tomorrow.

The Potentially Dangerous Persons (PDP) policy targets people who are deemed at risk of committing a sexual offence but have no convictions for such a crime.

Those leading the efforts believe the scheme will save lives and prevent cases such as the Soham murders.

Killer Ian Huntley had been accused of sexual offences but was never put before a court. He went on to murder schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.

The PDP initiative is now monitoring specific people in County Durham and is helping authorities across Wearside, as information is shared between areas.

The scheme is the first in the country, bringing together police and the probation service with education, children and adult services staff so they can share details and build a picture of a potential offender's lifestyle.

A person can be classed as a PDP if police have evidence of their crimes but do not have the backing of the Crown Prosecution Service to charge.

As well as those at risk of committing serious sexual offences, the programme also covers those who could potentially be involved in serious violent attacks.

The programme leads on from multi-agency public protection arrangements set up across the UK to deal with those who have been through the criminal justice system.

Detective Chief Superintendent Ian Scott, head of Durham Constabulary's CID, said: "There are some people that for whatever reason have not been cautioned or convicted, but might cause harm or danger.

"We have a responsibility and we are working in partnership to do something about it."

The team is working with Northumbria and Cleveland Police to make sure that information is shared between the three force areas.

County Durham's Public Protection Unit – the first in the country to have police and probation officers working from the same office, is dealing with eight men who are classes as PDPs. Overall it is managing 546 registered sex offenders, with 416 in the community.

Mike Creedon, assistant director of County Durham Probation Service, said: "I think this has been long overdue.

"I think lives will be saved – and I don't think that's being over-dramatic."

The Association of Chief Police Officers defines a PDP as "a person who has not been convicted, or cautioned for, an offence but whose behaviour gives reasonable grounds for believing that there is a present likelihood of them committing an offence or offences that will cause serious harm".